1. The players who did not make the 35-man roster and were cut from the team cannot practice with the team and are not allowed to sit on the bench. They basically are no longer a part of the team under the NCAA rules - at least for this year.

2. The term "redshirt" simply means that a player did not use a year of his eligibility. So the players who were cut can use this as a "redshirt" year.

3. Even a general student who was not a part of the team at all this year, but would try out and make the team next year, could call this year their "redshirt" year because they didn't use any eligibility.

If a player is on the final roster and does not play, he burns a year of eligibility. An example where this happens is with the newer transfer rules. The player takes up a "counter" and burns a year of eligibility.